This Month is On Par: National Golf Month

August 29, 2024

I am not an avid golfer. I do have a set of clubs. I’ve played a few rounds of 9 holes and one or two of 18. I enjoy the driving range when I get a chance, which, admittedly, it hasn’t been in a LONG time. However, I can still enjoy the game, and I can still be happy to share some images from our collection for National Golf Month.

Boy with golf club, Fort Wayne, 1939; Lula Peterson, Clyde McPhail, Florence Lacky and Babe Stewart at the Johnny Green Classic at the Douglass Park Course, Indianapolis, 1983; Forrest Jones, Indianapolis, 1985. Indiana Jewish Historical Society Collection, IHS; Indianapolis Recorder Collection, IHS (2nd image cropped)

There are several poses that we probably think of as ‘classic’ when it comes to golf. For instance, all those above, from children to celebrities, to known golf pros, are all in a classic golfing stance ready to hit the ball with their club. A couple of those shown are holding irons and the others have woods. If I were better at golf, I’d likely be able to tell you what each golfer’s chosen club would be best used for on the course, but alas I cannot.

Pro golfer Byron Nelson at the Highland Golf and Country Club, Indianapolis, 1944; Eleanor Brendel Miller, Indianapolis, ca. 1920s; George Ade, author, Brook, Newton County, 1917. IHS, P0569 (cropped); IHS, P0385; IHS, P0236 (cropped).

Another classic golfing photo pose in our collection shows those swinging their club in earnest or pretending to do so. I would suspect that the men to the left and right are in the process of swinging for real, while the woman, given that she is looking at the camera, is not. I believe these are all serious golfers nonetheless.

Coffin Golf Club Members, Simmie Wills, Edgar Searcy, Bob Kent, William Oliver, J. Green and Bo Crain, Indianapolis, 1983; Golfers at the Phoenix Club, Terre Haute, 1930; Elks Club Members golfing, Terre Haute, 1933. Indianapolis Recorder Collection, IHS (cropped); Martin Collection, IHS (cropped)

Finally, whether a foursome heading out on the links, or a larger group gathering for a golfing event, there are many images of those together ready to golf. While you can wear any unrestrictive clothing to successfully swing a club or play a round, there are rules at some courses and other classic clothing choices made by golfers. You’ll see a wide variety of clothing options on the men in the groups above, but my favorite is probably the golfer garb donned by the foursome in the top right, knickerbockers paired with high-knee socks.

I hope you enjoyed seeing all the golfers pictured above. Whether a golfer or not, perhaps you can pay tribute to the sport during National Golf Month in some way. See other monthly celebration blogs and so much more on the IHS blog site.

Amy Vedra is the director of reference services. She is currently reading her way through the Great American Reads list.

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